Improvement in locomotive-lamps



S. H. TIMMONS.

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No. 34,914. Patented April 8, 1862.

N PLYERS. Pham Lmwgwpm wnsmm 11111 u C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL H. TIMMONS, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCOMOTIVE-LAM PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,914, dated April 8,1862.

To ctZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. TIMMoNs, of Memphis, in the county ofShelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Locomotive Head-Lights and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference markedthereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention consists in the use of a lens or lenses in front of thelight, in connect-ion withthe ordinary reflector behind the same, whichlens or lenses and reflector, either or both, are, by the devicehereinafter to be described, rendered adjustable for the purpose ofconverging the light onto the track close in front of the engine or ofthrowing it to a great distance beyond, as may be requisite or mostconvenient, such adjustment of lens and reiiector being rendered easyand under the control of the engineer as he stands in the caboose of thelocomotive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of myimprovement in head-lights, showing the adjustable tube containing thelens. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through lamp-tube and reflector,showing the adjustment apparatus, &c.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in both the drawings.

A is the body of the lantern.

d is the ventilator at top, and b a shade over the same. j

B is the lamp within, and C the parabolic reflector, through the bottomof which the burner c of the lamp is inserted, so that the light shallbe in the focus of the parabola.

d is a chimney to carry olf the smoke and vapors from the reflector. j j

D is the front plate of the lantern, consiructed so as to slide ingrooves at the sides. This front is constructed with a tube e, of adiameter corresponding to the size of the light required. Upon this tubee another slightly-larger tube f is made to slide, this latter tubebearing the lens (or lenses) g. The tube f may be slid out or drawn inupon tube e, so as to remove the lens (or lenses) farther from or bringthem nearer to the lamp-burner, and thus alter the angle of convergencein the rays of light, as may be deemed requisite, by means of the deviceto be described. I

h is a screw-pin attached to tube f, and a corresponding pin (not shownin the drawings) is attached to the other side of same tube. To this pinthe wire or rod (and another at the opposite side to other pin) isattached and secured by the milled nut j. The other end of wired islinked to the lever Zt 011 rocking shaft Z, which shaft going across theback of lantern is journaled in brackets m, one at each side of lantern.By means of an arm n fixed to shaft Z, which arm is connected with a rodo going to the .engine-caboose, the shaft Z may be rocked and the tubefbe pushed out or drawn in at the pleasure or convenience of theengineer.

By means of a rod p, connected at one end with the arm n and at theother end to the lamp B and reflector, it may be so arranged that whilethe lens-tube is being extended the lamp and reflector are Withdrawn,thus doubling the effect produced by the movement of the rod o.

The advantages my invention are theseviz., that where it is required toconcentrate p the light upon the track, as in short curves, or wheredanger is apprehended, it may be effected easily and rapidly by theengineer as he stands in his Caboose; and, again, when it is requiredthat the light should extend farther and more widely, it can be soarranged by the engineer in an easy and rapid manner.

I propose to make the lens-tubefadjustable by means of the devicealready described, or to make the lamp and reflector adjustable inrelation to the lens, or to make both lens-tube and refiector adjustablein opposite directions, as shown in drawings, and already described.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention and the mode of its operationand its advan tages, I proceed to state what I claim, and what I desireby Letters Patent to secure.

Adjusting the distance between the lens g and the reflector C so astoconverge or diffuse the light, as may be desired, by means of the rod 0,or its equivalent, extending t'rom the lamp to the caboose of the engineWithin the immediate control of the engineer, substantially asdescribed.

SAML. H. TIMMONS. Witnesses:

WM. CLOUGH, GEO. PYBURN.

